plural necessities
1
: something that you must have or do : something that is necessary
Sunscreen is an absolute necessity for the beach.
food, clothes, and other basic necessities
Getting plenty of rest is a necessity.
Without a car, living close to work is a necessity.
All we took with us on our hiking trip were the bare necessities.
Many families cannot even afford the basic/bare necessities of life. [=things that a person must have in order to survive]
2
formal
: the quality of being necessary
—usually + of or for
She talked about the necessity of having the right training. [=she said that having the right training is necessary]
He questioned the necessity for the change. [=he questioned whether the change was necessary]
Cite this Entry
“Necessity.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/necessity. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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